Power-operated wringer for washing machines



May 3,1927.

1,626,831 w. K. HOWE POWER OPERATED WRINGER FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Aug. 25. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l w. K. HOWE rowan OPERATED WRINGER F'QR WASHINGAHACHINES v Filed Aug. 25. 1921 :5 sheets-sheet 2 May 3 1 927.

w. K. HOWE POIER OPERATED WRINGBR FOR WASHING MACHINES FIG. 6.

Filed Aug. 25,. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I FIG E;

M, Xvi E OR.

'ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WINTHRO]? KEITH HOWE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

. Patented May 3, 1927.

POWER-OPERATEDWRIIIGER FOR WASHING MACHINES.

I v Application filed August 25, 1921. Serial No.,495,349.

This invention relates to power. operated .wringers for domestic clothes washing machines. I

\Vith the introduction of power washing 5 machines, the construction of the wringer used with such machines has very slowly diverged fromtheconventional lines of the old hand operated wringer. As asa'fety measure auxiliary safety pressure release devices have been proposed; but even with such devices serious accidents often occur. For one thing, such safety devices can not ordinarily be operated quickly enough to prevent serious damage. Also, such devices are very rarely used, and consequently are not always maintained in the proper operating condition, so that when needed, they will bind or jam. Further, since the safety device is never used under ordinary condiarrows; tions,'the operator in the emergency often Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the forgets all about the safety pressure release, line 4-4 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction and trys to stop the wringer in the accusof the arrows; tomed way, that is, by operating the handle Fig. 5 shows a view of the reversing gear controlling the reversible gearing with the result that the rolls are Sometimes actually reversed while the fingers are caught, thereby doing still more damage. My improved wringer is arranged so that one operating handle or bar, preferably extending across the top of the wringerwhere it can be most conveniently operated, is used for starting, stopping and reversing the rolls, and also for applying and releasing pressure to the rolls. It is believed that, since the operator uses this handle regularly for stopping the rolls, this same handle will be instinctively operated in case the'fingers are caught, thereby automatically releasing the pressure and stopping the rolls. Sometimes the=hair or clothing of the operator may get caught between the rolls, and since these will wind up on the rolls and cause serious injury, even with the pressure re leased, provision is made in the present invention for automatically stopping the rolls as well as releasing the pressure.

Other features of the invention consist in an improved drain board arrangement;

the clothes of the operator; upper and lower rolls which may be readily removed for inspection or cleaning; anda construction in which the parts are allaccessible for replacement of rolls, bearings, or other parts. 0ther specific objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a front view of the wringer, with certain parts in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the wringer, taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows; I

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the wringer taken on the line 3-3 with the cover removed, showing the mechanism contained therein; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse view of the gear casing showing the wringer controlling mechanism taken on the line 6'6 in Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

The preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings is designed so as to be applicable to domestic clothes washing machines, but since this washing machine may be of any well-known or suitable type its construction has not been illustrated. 'Wringers for washing machinesare commonly supported by a swinging arm or bracket, in order that the wringer;

- clothes between different stationary tubs or receptacles, without moving the machine. In the particular construction illustrated, this wringer supporting bracket B is preferably made of one casting, comprising in housing G for the reversing gearing, and a horizontally extending arm 1 provided with swinging guide boards arranged to minimize two upwardly extending hollow bearing the tendency of clothes to wrap around the block supports, 2 and 3. While this bracket rolls and capable of yielding if this occurs B may be supported on the washing mawithout tearing or injuring clothes; gears chine so as to swing horizontall'y in any and bearings housed to keep water away and suitable manner, in the particular constructo obviate exposed moving parts to catch in Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of themay be used to advantage in wringing general a hollow head forming a casing or.

casing as viewed from the right in Fig. 1, e

tion illustrated, the bracket is formed with a flange 1 which fits down over a flange or head 5 on a tubular member (5 supported at one corner of the washing machine (not shown).

The bracket 3 carries a springpressed locking plunger 7, adapted to enter notches 8, formed in the head 5, so as to lock the bracket'in its different positions. In order to prevent sagging of the bracket B, a pipe 9 is attached thereto and extends down in the tubular member 6 where it bears against pads formed on the inside of said tubular member.

The wringer structure comprises in gen eral a reversing gearing and clutch mechanism in the casing or housing G; two con tacting rolls R and R extending between the two hollow bearing block supports 2 and 3; compression coil springs S in said bearing block supports for forcing the lower roll against the upper one, and an operating bar or handle H extending across the top of the wringer, which is operatively connected to the clutch controlling the reversing gearing, and which also acts to apply or release the pressure between the rolls. ,7

The rolls R and R which have the usual structure, are supported in bearing blocks slidably supported in the two bearing block supports 2 and 3, together with springs S arranged for supporting the rolls and exerting the desired pressure on the rolls, and since these structures are substantially the same, a description of one will suffice for both in most respects.

The shaft 10 for the lower roll R passes through a slot in the bearing block support (see Fig. 3)-, and rests in a halt round groove in a bearing block 11. which is seated in the upper portion of the bearing block support or spring chamber 2 (see Figs. 1 and 3). The bearing blocks 11 are preterably made of wood, such as lignum vitae, or some other suitable wood impregnated with tallow, paratlin or the like. The upward exertion of the spring S against the bearing block 11 of the lower roll R is limited by a crossbar 12 (see Fig. 3) extending through transverse slots in the bearing block support 2 over the top end of the spring S. The upward limit of movement of the spring S is adjustable by screw bolts 13 passing loosely through the bar 12 and threaded in outwardly extending ears 14 integral with the bearing block support 2. These bolts 13 are provided with jam nuts 15; and by loosening these nuts and turning the screws 13, the limit of movement of the upper end of the spring S may be adjusted. The tension of the spring S may be varied by turning the flanged adjusting bolt 16 resting on a washer in the bottom of the spring chamher 2 which is threaded into a flanged follower block 17 fitted in the end of the spring S. By turning the handle 18 of the bolt 16, the spring S may be compressed to give any desired pressure.

The shaft 19 of the upper roll R is journaled in a bearing block 21) in the form of a roller preferably made oi metal provided adjacent thereto with a bushing 21 of smaller diameter. This shaft 19 with the bushing 21 passes through the slots in the bearing block support 2 and are arranged to be engaged by one or the other of the cams 22 and 23 formed on the operating handle ll (see Fig.

The handle ll is formed at one end with a. split ring 24 having ears 25 with a tightening screw 26 passing theretln'ough, for clamping the same to the rotatable bearing or sleeve 27 supported in the hollowed boss 28 of the reversing gear casing G. A looking set screw 26 is-also provided to firmly connect the ring 24 to the sleeve 27. The handle H. extends across the top of: the wringer and is clamped in a similar manner to a pin 29 journaled in the other bearing block support 3. Each extremity of the handle H is provided with outwardly extending cams 22 and 23 adapted to engage the round bearing block or roller 20 of the upper roll R to force the roll downward against the lower roll R Between the cams 22 and 23, the handle is provided with an upwardly extending recess 30 to permit the roller 20 to move upward when the handle H is in its neutral position. Each cam has downwardly extending webs 31 which join the handle H and serve as stops to limit the movement of the handle in each direction. Adjacent the reversing gear casing G the handle H is provided with five holes 32 (see Figs. 1 and 3). The gear casing G earries a tubular flanged member 33 containing aspring-pressed plunger 34, provided with a head 35 on one end, and having a washer 36 riveted on its opposite end to limit its outward movement, the head 35 of the plunger is adapted to engage said holes 32, thus locking the handle H in a neutral. two extreme, and two intermediate positions.

Remote from the gear casing (11 the shafts of the rolls are provided with intermeshing cog wheels 87 and 38 of the type usually used in wringer construction for the purpose of driving one roll by the other. These gears are in a casing 39 provided with a hinged cover 39 (see Fig. 2) which may open, if for any reason the rolls are separated a considerable distance.

Instead of a movable drain board. two stationary metallic drain boards 40 are provided which are riveted or otherjwise fastened to angle brackets secured to the bearing block supports 2 and 3 by machine screws. Above these boards is a curved or bent rocking deflecting board 41 pivotally supported to the bearing block supports by screws 42 provided with spring washers 43. These drain (iii ) assembly of the parts and giving boards beiiig firmly fastened, cannot slip ortilt out of position by the weight of the clothes. Also, while the drain board on the ,ingoing'side by the aidof. the deflecting board serves to drain the water back into the machine or tub, the one on the outgoing side deflects the clothes outward, so that they drop directly into the next tub or basket, rather than pile up directly behind the wringer.

The wringer is also provided with metallic guide boards 44 which are pivotally supported on rods 45 passin through the cross: bars 12 and are resilient y held adjacent the roll R by springs 46. Near the lowerroll' of clothes, large buttons and the like to 'pass between the rolls.

I preferably arrange these guide boards 44 so that their inner edges are close to the lower roll, so as to catch clothes coming from the roll and tend to prevent them from winding upon the same. Since these guide boards 44 may swing out from the roll it, the may be pushed away in case clothes shou d happen to wrap around the rolls, without injuring the guide boards or tearing the clothes.

Within the tubular member 6 is a hollow shaft 48 which is driven from the washing machine gearing in some suitable manner (not shown). This shaft 48 has a lost mo tion pin-and-slot connection with a vertical shaft 49 journaled in upper and lower bear;

ings 50 and 51 formed in the head or gear casing G. This shaft 49 has a collar 52 pinned thereto at its upper end, said collar 52 being preferably disposed in a recess in the top wall of the casing G, that is closed by a hinged cover 53, as shown in Figul. The shaft 49 extends through the gear casing or compartment G, which is provided with a detachable cover plate 54 permitting access to the gearing for inspection or repair; On the shaft 49 are loosely mounted two beveled pinions 55 meshing with a beveled gear 56. Between the beveled pinions 55 on the shaft 49 is splined a shiftable clutch member 57 provided with a circumferential groove to be engaged by a clutch shifter 58 to be described hereinafter. The clutch member 57 is formed with suitable teeth 59, and the shanks of the beveled pinions 55 are formed with similar teeth 60, so that as the clutch member 57 is moved up and .down from the neutral position shown, into engagement with one or the other of the pinions 55, the bevel gear 56 is rotated in one direction or the other.

i The bevel gear 56 is connected to the lower roll R. by a flexible 'or universal driving connection which permits this roll to n1ove' up and down freely while being driven. In

the particular construction shown, the bevel gear 56'is formed with a hollow bearing stud or sleeve 61 journa-led within the sleeve 27' (see Figs. 1 and 4). A cross-pin 62 is ,our-

naled in diametrically opposite holes in the bearing stud 61 and to this cross pin the bifurcated end. of a connecting shaft 63 is pivotally connected by a pin 64' disposed at right angles to the pin 62, the stud 61 being provided-with holes as shown in Fig. 4 to permit insertion of said pin 64.' The other end of the connecting shaft 63 is coupled to the shaft 10 of the lower roll R by a separable universal joint or coupling comprising a tiltable bushing-65 pivoted on a transverse pin 66 on the shaft 10. This bushing 65 is formeeluvith integral studs 67 disposed at right angles to the pin 66;- and these studs 67 fit in slots inthe bifurcated end of the shaft 63. The lower roll R can be'removed easily, since the studs 67 can slip directly out of the the connecting shaft 63.

The sleeve 27 is provided with gear teeth 70 (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6), which mesh with the teeth 71 of a gear sector 72 'inned to the oscillatable shaft 73, supported in bearing sockets 74 and 75 in the casing G and cover 54, respectively. The oscillatable shaft 73 has also pinned thereto acam member 76 having a sidewardly extending lug 77 and 'isiprovided with a forked end 78.

' Pivoted on the shaft is an inwardly extending arm or clutchshifter 58 having a hub 80.

slots in the end of This arm" 58 is bifurcated at its opposite end and straddles the slidable clutch member 57, by engaging its circumferential groove. The arm or clutch shifter 58 is also provided 'with a sidewardly extending lug 81 in radial alignment with the lug 77. The lug 81 extends into the forked end of the cam member 76. On the hub 80 of the arm 58 is wound an initially tensioned coil spring 82, having its ends extending on opposite sides of the lugs 77 and 81 so-as to bias them into radial alignment. It is thus seen, that the movement of the handle H will move the clutch member 57 slidably on the shaft to engage or disengage the clutch member 57 with the beveled pinions 55, through themedium of the coil spring 82, thus constituting resilient operating mechanism. If the clutch member 57 should not be properly in line with the teeth 60 of the beveled pinions 55 the spring 82 will allmvseparate movement of the handle H and all of the control mechanism to the coil spring 82. If the handle H should be moved to neutral position and for some reason or other the clutch member 57 should stick, only limited independent movement of the handle H with the pressure of the .springs respect to the clutch member 57 is possible construction is'one inwhlch movement of the handle H toward the operator causes the rolls to rotate in a direction to wring clothes away from the operator, this particular arrangement being preferred on the theory that persons getting their fingers caught will instinctively push against somethin with the other hand, rather than pull. l ion the handle H is tilted, the cam surfaces 22 or 23, as the case may be, engage the rollers 20 at the end of the upper roll R, and byv a'camming action, force these rollers 20 and the upper roll R down against the lower roll R With the handle H in the neutral position, the position of the arts is as shown in Fig. 3, the tension 0 the springs S acting directly on the bars 12 and bolts 13, and the upper v roll R merely resting by its weight upon the lower roll B. As the upper roll is forced down, it also resses down the lower roll slightly, trans erring S .from the screws 13 to the upper roll. It will be evident that as soon as bearing blocks 11 of the lower roll press the bars 12 down out of contact with the heads of the adjustin screws 13, the full pressure of the s rings is exerted upon the lower roll, and t e upper till roll being held down by the cams 22 or 23, the tension of the springs establishes the de-' sired pressure between the rolls. This pressure is dependent upon the initial or normal tensions of the springs, that is, when extended to the upper limited position, and also upon the extent to which these springs are compressed by downward movementof the lower roll R The initial tension of the springs S may be adjusted by the screws 16. The amount of compression of these springs by the downward movement of the lower roll R is determined by adjustment of the screw bolts 13. This adjustment of screw bolts l3 in turn depends upon the shaping of the cams 22 and 23, the distance of movement of the handle H, and the force required to shift this handle; and the shape and position of these parts is preferably determined or adjusted so that, without undue effort on the part of the operator, the initial pressure of the springs S may be directed and freely applied to the lower roll R It will be evident that as the rolls separate, due to the passage of clothes between them, the lower roll is forced down, compressing the springs S-and increasing the pressure between the rolls. The degree to which the pressure-between the rolls is insleeve 27 connected thereto is turned far enough to move the clutch member 57 into engagement with the teeth of the corresponding bevel pinion 55, thereby starting the rolls turnin g. If the-teeth on the clutch mgmber 57 and on the bevel pinion ha ppn to be opposite at the instant the hand l is shifted to its extreme position, the

spring 82 (Fig. 4) yields, thereby obviat ing a chance of breaking. or injuring the clutch parts or associated operating members by the forcible shifting of the handle at the wrong instant. The wringer may now, be used in the regular way. The springpressed plunger 34'holds the handle H in its different positions against accidental displacement.

The rolls may be stopped without releasing the pressure by returning the handle H to its intermediate position, which permits the operator to adjust the clothes better, or perform any other desired manipulation.

It sometimes happens that clothes wind upon the lower roll. When this happens, if the clothes are not thickly wrapped around the roll, the handle H may be pushed directly over to the other extreme position to reverse the rolls and unwrap the clothes. If the bunch of clothes between the rolls is so thick as to prevent such reverse movement of the handle H, it may be put in the middle or neutral position. and the clothes pulled out. the rolls being disconnected from the operating gearing and the pressure released so that they will be easily rotated in either direction.

Regarding the safety afforded by the pres ent invention, if the operator should happen to get the fingers pinched between the rolls, a simple direct movement of the handle H to the middle or neutral position not only automatically stops the rolls instantly, but also releases all the pressure. This handle H extends along the top of the Wringer in a very accessible position, and is something which the operator, it is believed, will 1. this handle H is used regularly to stop and start the rolls and select their direction of rotation, and being the control which the operator is accustomed to use, will ordinarily be the thing that the operator instinctively reaches for in the time of emergency. In other words, by combining the control of the reversible gearing frequently manipulated by the operator in regular use, with the same handle employed for relieving the pressure between the rolls, it isconsidered that the habitual use of this handle for reversing purposes will make its use as an emergency safety device instinctive on the part of the operator.

It should be noted that the operator can not push the handle H so far as to reverse the direction of rotation of the rolls, because the instant thehandle gets into the middle position, the upper roll is raised up by the finger or hand so far that the rollers 20 are practically opposite the ends of the cams 22 and 23 (see Fig. 3), so that the handle H can not be moved beyond its neutral position. The upper roll jumps up quickly, so to speak, when there is something between the rolls and the. handle H is returned to the neutral position, and consequently, whether the handle H is moved quickly or slowly to the neutral position, the pressure is automatically released. the rolls are stopped, and the handle is retained against reversal of the rolls. The handle, however, can be easily swung from one extreme position to the other to reverse the direction of the rolls when there is nothing between the rolls, or only a small thickness of clothes.

It should be noted that the construction is such that the rolls may move wide apart, if necessary. The spur gearing connection between the rolls permits ready separation thereof, and the cover 39 being hinged to swing freely, may be swung back and the upper roll raised far enough to avoid all likelihood of damage to the hand or arm of'the operator. 7

The stationary drain boards 40 greatly facilitate practical use of the wringer. On the iii-going side of the wringer, the drain board carries water-back from-the wringer and directs it into the machine or tub with little chance of splashing or dripping. In this connection it should be noted that the outer edges of these drain boards are bent down to form a vertically disposed drip flange, which prevents the water flowing down the drain board from curling back .up under the drain board, and assuring that the water will be directed intothe machine or tub from which clothes are being wrung. On the out-going side ofthe wringer, the

drain board 40 serves to guide or convey the clothes over and beyond the edge of the receptacle into which the clothes are being wrung. These drain boards, being rigidly fastened to the frame of the wringer can not tilt, slip, or sag with the weight of the clothes, as often happens with the movable drain boards commonly used. The tilting water deflector 41, is preferably bent or arched as shown so as to catch allof the water falling from the rolls and direct it to the drain board on the in-going side. Also, on account of the shape of this water deflector 41, and the frictional holding there of by the springs 43, this deflector will remain in the position it is put.

The guide boards 44 are yieldingly held in their normal position, best shown in Fig. 2, with their upper inner edges close to the surface of the lower roll. This construction leaves little space between the edges of the guide boards and the rolls through which clothes may pass, and yet, if clothes should happen to wind upon the lower roll, these guide boards can be pressed out and will not tear or injure the clothes. Since the lower roll moves up and down in the particular construction illustrated, these guide boards 44. are carried by the stop bars 12, so as to move up and down with the lower roll, thereby maintaining the same relative position. These guide boards 44 are preferably made of aluminum, or a similar metal, and have the upper surfaces smooth and polished, so that the clothes can be fed and discharged smoothly.

Another important feature of the improved wringer is that all of the parts may be easily inspected, adjusted, rep-aired, or replaced. W'hen the handle H is in the middle or neutral position, the cover 39 may be swung back, and the upper roll R- lifted out. The lower roll B may then be taken out, the universal coupling between the shaft 10 and the connecting shaft 63 readily separating. This givesaccess to the bearings 11 for the lower roll. By removing the cover plate 54 of the gear case G all of the gears, clutch device and other operating parts are exposed. In short, any of the parts of the wringer may be detached or removed for any purpose, and without aid of special tools or equipment.

While various materials may be employed, the several parts of the wringer, except of course the rolls, are preferably made of some rustless material, such as aluminum, or of some material suitably treated or protected so as to be rust proof. as iron hotgalvan-- lubricant and needs no attention. The wooden bearing blocks for the lower roll, once treated, require no special lubrication. The rollers 20 for the bearings for the upper roll, may be provided, if desired, with so-called oilless bearings, that is, bearings impregnated or provided with inserts of graphite or a similar lubricating or substitute material.

\Vhile I have shown and described in detail one preferred embodiment of the invention, I desire to have it understood that the particular construction shown and described may be modified and adapted in any respects without departing from the invention.

What I claim is 1. In a wringer, the combination of a lower roll driven by a direct connection, means for resiliently forcing said roll upward against an upper roll, and means separate from said upper roll for limiting the upward movement of said lower roll.

2. A clothes wringer comprising, a wringer frame, a lower roll, spring means for forclng said lower roll upward, an upper roll normally held against said lower roll, a gear, a universal connecting means connecting said gear to one of said rolls, reversible driving means for driving said gear in one direction or the other and for stopping its rotation, and control means for releasing the upper roll and for controlling the reversible driving means, said control means being pivotally supported so as to be concentric with said gear.

3, In a wringer, the combination of two rolls, one roll of which is spring-pressed and the other is movable toward and away from the first, and adjustable means for limiting the movement of the spring-pressed roll toward said movable roll.

4. A clothes wringer comprising, a wringer frame having pockets therein, a lower roll in said frame, springs in said pockets for forcing said lower roll upward, an upper roll, a shaft for driving said rolls, and means concentric with the axis of said shaft for simultaneously operatively connecting said shaft to suitable driving means and for forcing said upper roll against said lower roll.

5. In a wringer, the combination with a roll, directly connected reversible driving means for driving said roll, resilient means urging the roll in one direction, means for limiting the movement of the roll in said direction, another roll, and means for moving the other roll toward and away from the first mentioned roll.

6. In a wringer having lower and upper rolls; spring means for forcing the lower roll upward; disengageable driving means for the rolls; and operating means including a spring for simultaneously forcing the upper roll down against: the lower roll and yieldingly moving said disengageable means into engagement, and for releasing said upper roll and unyieldingly forcing said disengageable means out of engagement.

7. In a wringer having rolls; spring means for forcing the lower roll upward; disengageable driving means for driving said rolls; operating means including a spring for simultaneously forcing the upper roll down against the lower roll and yieldingly moving said disengageable means into engagement, and for releasing said upper rolls and unyieldingly forcing said disengageable means out of engagement; and means for releasably retaining said operating means in one of its operative positions.

8. A wringer comprising upper and lower rolls; means for driving said rolls in either direction including two pinions having a common axis and connected to rotate in opposite directions; a clutch member adapted to engage either of said pinions; and operating means for yieldingly moving said clutch member toward either of said pinions and for unyieldingly forcing said clutch member out of engagement with either of said pinions, said operating member also being controllable to permit separation of said rolls.

9. In a wringer, the combination with a lower roll spring-pressed upward to a limited position, an upper roll, rollers pivotally mounted at the ends of the upper roll and manually operable means co-operating with said rollers to force the upper roll down against the lower roll.

10. A wringer comprising upper and lower rolls; means for driving said rolls in either direction including two pinions having a common axis and connected to rotate in opposite directions; a clutch member adapted to engage eitherof said pinions; and operating means which when in one extreme position connects said clutch member to one of said pinions and forces said rolls together, when in its other extreme position connects said clutch member to the other of said pinions and forces said rolls together and when in its neutral position retains said clutch member out of engagement with both of said pinions and permits free separation of the rolls, said operating means when moved to a sub extreme position forcing said rolls together but not effecting engagement between said clutch member and either of said pinions.

11. A wringer comprising, a lower roll spring-pressed upward to a limited position, an upper roll, manually operable means for forcing the upper roll down to a predetermined position, and means for adjust ing the upper limited position of the lower roll.

12. A wringer comprising, an upper roll supported on movable bearings, means including a handle extending along the top of lltlt] lower rolls supported by movable bearings,

manually operable means for forcing the upper roll downward to a predetermined position, and adjustable spring means for pressing the lower roll upward to an adjusted position.

14; In a wringer, the combination with upper and lower rolls, reversible gearing for 1 driving the rolls, manually operable means for controlling the gearing and for also forcing the upper roll downward to a predetermined position, and spring means for pressing the lower roll upward to a limited position.

15. In a wringer, the combination with upper and lower rolls, reversible gearing for driving the rolls, means including a handle extendingalong the top of the wringer for controlling the gearing and also for forcing the upper roll downward, spring means urging the lower roll upward to a limited extent and means for limiting the upward movement of the lower roll.

16. In a wringer, the combination with a lower roll spring-pressed upward to a limited position, an upper roll movable down against the lower roll, rollers on the ends on the shaft of the upperroll, and a handle extending along the top of the wringer and having cams to engage said rollers and force the upperroll down as the handle is shifted.

17. In a .wringer ,-.the combination with a lower roll spring-pressed upward to a predetermined limited position, an upper roll,

a handle along the top of the wringer tiltable forward and backward, and means for forcing the upper roll down against the lower roll to establish pressure between the rolls as the handle is shifted in either direction from a neutral position, said means permitting a free upward movement of the upper roll when the handle is in its neutral position.

18. In a wringer, the combination with a spring-pressed lower roll, a movable upper roll, a shiftable handle, recessed cam means carried by the handle. for forcingthe rolls together only in certain operative positions of the handle, the cams being arranged for one position of ,the handle to present the re cessed portion to wholly release pressure on the rolls and permit unrestrained movement of one roll away from the other.

19. In a wringer having upper and lower rolls, both mounted on movable bearings, re-

versible gearingfor driving the rolls, springs for urging the lower roll upward to a limited.

position, and manually operable means for controlling the reversible gearing and for fixing the .upper limiting position of the lower roll being spring-pressed upward, ad-

justable means limiting the upward movement of the upperroll, manually operable means actin when shifted from a neutral position to ibrce the upper roll downward to a predetermined ;position and establish pressure between the rolls, reversible gears for driving the rolls operated by the movement of the handle in opposite directions from its neutral position, and means automatically preventing the movement of said handle beyond its neutral position when the rolls are separated.

21. A clothes wringer comprising, a wringer frame having pockets therein, a lower roll in said frame, springs in said pockets for forcing said lower roll u Ward, an upper roll, a shaft for driving said rolls, and operating means which if moved to an extreme position opratively connects said shaft to a suitable driving means to efi'ect rotation of said rollsand forces said upper roll against said lower roll, and if moved into a retracted position from said extreme position disconnects said shaft from said rolls, said operating means if moved to a sub-extreme position forcin said upper roll against the lower roll wit out operativeiy connecting said shaft to said rolls.

22. In a wringer, the combination of a -roll against the upper roll, and means including a single operating handle for actuating the reversible gearing and for estab-' lishing pressure between therolls In a wringer, the combination with a pair of rolls, means for simultaneously starting the rolls and exerting pressure between the rolls or stopping the rolls and releasing the pressure between the rolls, said starting means including an actuating member, an actuated member, and a resilient connection between the two members.

25. In a wrin er, the combination with a pair of rolls, means for simultaneously starting the rolls and exerting pressure between the rolls, or stopping the roller and re leasing pressure between the rolls,v said starting means including an actuating member, an actuatedmember, and a limited resilient connection between the two members, means "for producing apositive connection between said members, the resilient connection being limited in its operative extent by said positive means for producing a positive connection between the two members upon a given relative operative movement of the two members. 7

26. In a wrmger, the combination with a pair of rolls, diwngageable means for driving said rolls, means for actuating said disenga eable means including two movable mem ers, means including a flexible element for transmitting motion from one of said movable members to the other and for maintaining said members in a predetermined position relative to each other, and limiting means to limit the movement of said members with respect to each other.

27. In a Wringer, thecombination of a pair of rolls, a gear casing containing reversible gearsfor driving said rolls, means for pressing therolls together, means for releasing said means comprismg a handle extending over the top of said rolls, and locking means in the wall of said gear casing for locking said handle.

28. ,In a wringer, the combination with a wringer frame, a spring-pressed roll slid ably journaled in said frame, a releasable roll in engagement with said spring-pressed roll when in its operative position, means at the one end of said rolls for operatively connecting them together, and means for driving one of said rolls, said last mentioned means comprislng a gear having a hollow hub, and means 'operatively connecting said roll to the remote end of said hub.

29. A Wringer comprising, a wringer frame, a roll releasably latched in said frame, a second roll, pressure adjustable spring means for urging said second roll against said first mention d roll, and adjustable means for limiting the displacement of said second roll by said spring means.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my 'si gnature.

WINTHROP KEITH HOWE. 

